Events and Things to Do in Nashville in October 2024

This post covers things to do during October in Nashville, Tennessee.

We include family-friendly and free activities as well as evening entertainment and live music, updated for 2025.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER

This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out in Music City during October.

For even more ideas, be sure to check out our master post on things to do in Nashville any time of year.

Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:

1. Attend a Concert

If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it.

In Nashville, you can find concerts every night of the week.

Concerts

Post Malone | October 19
Miranda Lambert | October 5
Sabrina Carpenter | October 16

Check here for even more concerts in the Nashville area in October.

Musical Festivals

Breakaway Music Festival | The Fairgrounds Nashville | October 11-12

Concert Venues

You might also enjoy our post What to do at Night in Nashville.

2. See a Sporting Event

Nashville is a competitive city that loves its sports!

October is a great time to catch a game since there are several teams playing during the month.

It is also an excellent way to spend the day with the family.

Click here for even more sporting events, including those with local college teams, taking place in Nashville in October.

3. Theatre and Stand-Up Comedy

Music City isn’t just about concerts. You can find other stage productions in the city.

Musicals

Moulin Rouge | October 8-20

Comedy

Whitney Cummings | October 6
David Cross | October 19

Family-Friendly

Blippi | October 13

Find even more events on the stage in Nashville here.

4. Take a Sightseeing Tour

October means pleasant, crisp weather - perfect for exploring the town.

Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour.

Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville.

A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.

You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.

Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween with the kid-friendly Ghost Tour at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage after hours.

5. See Nashville’s Top Attractions

Taking a trip to Nashville in October is the perfect opportunity to see the city’s top attractions with less crowding than during the busy season of summer.

History buffs will enjoy Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Music lovers can tour the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

We've listed some great opportunities to find live music on our post covering things to do at night, as well.

Families with kids, or those who enjoy Music City’s celebrities can visit Madame Tussauds Nashville. We have plenty of suggestions for other things to do with your kids here, too.

If you're on a budget, check out our free activities in Nashville post.

6. BOO and BOOze at the Zoo

Halloween is loads of fun at the Nashville xoo.

For the littles, there is a Boo at the Zoo event. It includes free rides, storytime, trick or treating, and much more.

This runs from October 11th to 31st, 2025.

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is the perfect place for Halloween festivities!

BOOze at the Zoo, taking place October 10th, 2025, is a Halloween event full of food, drinks, and activities for those aged 21+.

There will be a Trick-or-Treat trail, a carousel and zip-line rides, adult beverages, food trucks, and a costume contest.

For additional information about visiting the zoo, read our post on Nashville Zoo Deals and Offer

7. Celebrate the Nashville Cultural Festival

Approximately 1 in 6 Nashville residents are foreign-born, which means there are a lot of different cultures within the city to be celebrated.

The free Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival is held on October 5th, 2025 in Centennial Park.

You’ll be able to enjoy music and dance performances on multiple stages throughout the day.

The Children's Area encourages kids from different backgrounds to play together with educational games, performances, and fun activities.

Younger visitors won’t have a chance to get bored from the Teen’s Area with dance performances and displays of information about how teenagers of other cultures incorporate that into their lives in Nashville.

While the festival itself is free, you might want to bring money with you if you plan on enjoying the World Market vendors or the beer and food vendors that will be set up all day.

If you’re looking for more budget-friendly activities, check out our free things to do post.

Visitors with kids can also find things to do in our family-friendly activities post.

9. Have a Scary Halloween

Nashville has several annual haunted houses, parties, and celebrations during most of October.

If you’re not in Music City during Halloween festivities you can still take a haunted pub crawl to visit local bars and hear spooky stories.

If you get a thrill at intense haunted houses, go to the popular Nashville Nightmare or Devil's Dungeon.

They’re generally open from the very end of September through Halloween.

They do recommend that all visitors are 13 or older due to the intensity of the experience.

Looking for more nighttime activities in Nashville? Check out our full evening entertainment post.

9. Go to a Pumpkin Patch

If there's one family activity you can always count on, it's going to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkin for carving.

In addition to the pumpkins, these farms usually also have several other activities to enjoy such as trains, corn mazes, petting farms, and more.

Here are a few of the best pumpkin patches near Nashville:

Check this master list of pumpkin patches for even more options in central Tennessee.

10. Nashville Oktoberfest

If you enjoy beer, music, and Bavarian culture, don’t miss Nashville’s Oktoberfest. It covers 10 blocks and has been running for over 40 years.

You’ll find delicious food vendors with German food, high-quality local breweries, art vendors, and more than one stage offering live German music.

As if that weren’t enough, there will be a parade through downtown Nashville with people dressed in their finest dirndl and lederhosen after the hilariously adorable Dachshund Derby.

This event will be taking place between October 3rd-6th, 2025. Tickets are only $10 and children under age 3 are free.

Click here for tickets and more info.

11. Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Concession Pass

If you’re looking to see multiple major attractions, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, or take any tours, we suggest using a tourist city pass to save money.

Some passes can offer up to 55% retail-price concessions for restaurants, souvenir shops, and attraction tickets.

Featured on Various Passes:

See our full tourist attraction concession pass comparison here.

12. Other Events in Nashville

There are a few other events and festivals you won't want to miss.

Tennessee Craft Fair | October 11th-13th | Centennial Park
Southern Festival of Books | October 26th-27th | various locations
Tennessee Beer and Wine Festival | October 19th| Two Rivers Mansion

RELATED POSTS :

Things to do in Nashville any time of year
Family-Friendly Activities
Things to Do at Night
Free Things to Do in Nashville
Nashville Walking Tours
Luggage Storage in Nashville

Things to Do in Nashville in October